The Native American filmmaker spoke with us about her new Netflix movie.
And the raves just keep coming in for Rez Ball, the terrific film about Native American high school basketball players now streaming on Netflix.
Directed and co-written (with Sterlin Harjo of Reservation Dogs) by Sydney Freeland (Echo), the drama drew high praise from Laya Lee of the Chicago Reader: “Rez Ball revitalizes the inspirational sports drama with an honest, heartfelt story grounded by its spirited portrayals of Navajo youth… [It] follows an ensemble of Navajo high schoolers, their community, and their basketball team, the Chuska Warriors, as they navigate the grief of losing their star player and teammate. Jimmy (Kauchani Bratt) and Coach Heather Hobbs (Jessica Matten) struggle to keep the team inspired amidst the waves of mourning, anger, and fear that impact their community, all while finding ways to move each other toward their dreams of winning the state championship.”
Marya E. Gates of RogerEbert.com agreed: “Freeland excels in shooting the basketball sequences, using fluid camera movements to follow the ball and stylistic slow motion when the team works together to score points. These action sequences are balanced well with a bevy of character-building moments that allow the main actors to shine as they share their traumas, joys, and all of the things that make humans so complex… There’s a lived-in intimacy to its heart and humor that is both culturally specific and universally felt. It’s also just plain entertaining from start to finish. I’m happy to report that the feel-good sports movie renaissance is off to a great start.”
Sydney Freeland recently visited the C&I Studio to talk about Rez Ball — the casting, the production, the challenge of making the b-balling look believable, and the film’s underlying message.
